THE MARTYRDOM OF JOHN HUSS.

THE simple but majestic memorial of a tree planted on the spot where John Huss heroically suffered martyrdom, is one that arrests the attention of the stranger, and invests the scenery around the town of Constance with no common interest. On other occasions, and under far less important circumstances, the skill of the artist and the labour of the workman have been called in, to erect monuments of glory, or testimonials of public gratitude, as might best accord with the predominant feeling of the times. But here neither skill nor labour were required, yet the traveller may now repose beneath the stately and outstretching boughs, whose existence is traced back to the very day on which the martyr expired amidst surrounding flames.

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It is difficult to suppose that the idea of establishing so simple and beautiful a memorial of the martyr's sufferings and death, could have originated in the malignant and persecuting spirit to which he owed his doom; but as there was one hand unseen" that strewed flowers upon the tomb of Nero, it may not be too fanciful to suppose that there might have been one bosom in the unpitying multitude whose hope was like his own, and that the planting of this tree was dictated by that holy sympathy which could only arise from similarity of faith, and union of soul.

Little, however, of this sympathy or union was exhibited on the great occasion to which Constance owes so much of its